In the race to fill the Senate seat formerly held by Secretary of State John Kerry, three Republicans and two Democrats are competing Tuesday for their party’s nomination.

The GOP field includes state Rep. Dan Winslow, a former judge and legal counsel to Gov. Mitt Romney; Michael Sullivan, a former state representative, district attorney and acting ATF director; and Gabriel Gomez, a former Navy SEAL turned businessman.

The two Democrats seeking the Senate seat are Congressmen Edward Markey, who’s served 37 years in the House, and Stephen Lynch, who’s served for the past 12.

Republicans oppose House budget

The Massachusetts House passed a $34 billion state budget this past week on a 127-29 vote, with every Republican member objecting.

The spending plan adds nearly $135 million in spending to the House Ways and Means budget proposal.

After its passage, House Ways and Means Chairman Brian Dempsey said the bill addresses many of the priorities Gov. Deval Patrick highlighted in his budget plan in “a balanced a fiscally responsible way.”

In his budget proposal, Patrick called for raising taxes by $1.9 billion to fund investments in education and transportation. The House and Senate appear poised to advance a $500 million tax bill that raises levies on tobacco, gasoline and businesses. Despite the tax increases, both Patrick and the House opted to again dip into the state’s reserves for cash to support proposed spending next year.

“I think we invest in education, higher education, which were priorities of the governor. We are going to continue to look at early education,” Dempsey said, according to the State House News Service. “We think we need to do a little bit of work there in terms of having a commission review some things.”

The Ways and Means budget proposal increased unrestricted local aid for the first time since 2010 by $21.3 million over last year

Many Republicans said they opposed the budget because it relies on new taxes and rejects GOP-sponsored reforms.

“There was a golden opportunity to accept many reforms to create more accountability and save taxpayer money while providing services,” state Rep. Shaunna O’Connell, R-Taunton, said. “We could have implemented a one-time tax amnesty program which can fund all of our transportation needs without raising taxes. Unfortunately, these ideas were rejected.”

She also pledged not to support any tax hikes on her constituents.

“It is clear to me that we can meet our priorities of local aid, education and other vital services with realistic reforms instead of increasing taxes,” state Rep. Orrall, R-Lakeville, said. “The hardworking people of the Commonwealth have to make hard choices and live within their spending limits. I believe the Legislature should do the same.”

The Senate will likely pass its version of the budget next month.

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Pacheco opposes plan to close Taunton law library

State Sen. Marc Pacheco, D-Taunton, said he’s “disappointed by the Massachusetts Trial Court’s decision to close the Bristol Law Library in Taunton.

“It is unfortunate that this vital public resource is at risk when Taunton’s courts are finally receiving the attention they deserved for so many years,” Pacheco said.

Pacheco questioned data prompting the potential closure of the library, which suggests that usage of the library was down while the community relied on Fall River courts during court rehabilitation work in Taunton.